Easy bread recipes are the best! If you are looking for some comfort food - try this Italian Pull Apart Bread. This simple recipe is always a crowd pleaser and it pairs perfectly with our Eggplant Parmesan Without Frying.
Thank you to ConAgra Foods for sponsoring this Italian Pull Apart Bread recipe. All opinions are 100% my own.
If you are entertaining friends then you'll be looking for some party appetizer ideas to make that won't keep you in the kicthen for hours. This Italian Pull Apart Bread is one such recipe. You can even do all the prep work hours before and then just pop it in the oven when your guests arrive. I love to serve this bread when friends come over to group watch our favorite shows. Watching TV with a group is such a fun experience, with everyone offering up their theroies and opinions. Plus when the weather is nasty, there is nothing better than gathering with friends in front of a roaring fire while snacking and watching good TV.
Italian Pull Apart Bread
To make this Italian Pull Apart Bread I used a round sourdough loaf. It might seem a bit odd to combine sourdough with Italian flavors, but trust me it works. You can also make this with any other type of round loaf.
To start, you'll need to cut a checkerboard pattern into the round loaf, making sure to cut almost to the bottom of the loaf but not cutting all the way through. Once this is done, you'll pour melted butter over the loaf.
Now it's time to stuff the bread with the mozzarella, Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes and sun dried tomatoes. Be sure to thoroughly drain the Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes before using them. You will get your hands dirty on this step. If you have kids who like to play with their food, stuffing the bread may be just the job for them. Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes are perfect to use in this Italian Pull Apart Bread since they are already cut into small pieces. Hunt's juicy, red California tomatoes are picked at the peak of ripeness for an all-natural, fresh taste. They are the perfect ingredient to use in many recipes that call for tomatoes.
The easiest way I have found to stuff the bread is to do it one ingredient at a time. First, I stuffed the tomatoes into all the cuts I made in the bread. Then I added the cheese and the sun dried tomatoes. Finally I sprinkled some Italian seasoning on top.
That is all the prep that is involved! Now all that is left to do is wrap the bread and pop it in the oven. Spray a length of foil with PAM Cooking Spray and wrap the bread with the foil, making sure to cover the loaf completely.
You'll bake the loaf for 20 minutes at 350 degrees then unwrap it and bake it for another 10 minutes.
When it comes out of the oven, it will be this cheesy, crusty thing of beauty.
You'll want to serve this to your guests while it is still warm and the mozzarella is at its gooiest.
This Italian Pull Apart Bread is the perfect thing to serve next time you host a TV viewing party during this Hibernation Season. It is warm, comforting, and simple to make.
FAQs For Italian Pull-Apart Bread
A round sourdough loaf or any crusty artisan-style bread works best. You want something sturdy with a good chew so it holds up to all the melty, cheesy goodness.
Yes! You can assemble the bread (slice, stuff, and butter it), then wrap it up and store it in the fridge for a few hours before baking. Just pop it in the oven when you're ready to serve.
Absolutely! Chopped pepperoni, crumbled cooked sausage, or even bits of prosciutto would be delicious tucked into the slices along with the cheese.
📖 Recipe
Italian Pull Apart Bread
Video
Ingredients
- 1 round loaf of sourdough bread
- 4 tbs butter
- 1 can Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes drained
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 2 tbs minced sun dried tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- PAM Cooking Spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cut the round loaf of bread into a checkerboard pattern, cutting almost to the bottom of the loaf, but leaving the bottom intact.
- Melt butter and pour over bread, getting it in all the crevices.
- Stuff the bread with the mozzarella, Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes and sun dried tomatoes, making sure to get into all the cuts.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning on top of the loaf.
- Spray a length of aluminum foil with PAM Cooking Spray, Make sure the foil is long enough to wrap around the bread.
- Wrap bread and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Unwrap and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Serve while warm.
Caitlin + Dani says
Is this more fun to make or to pull apart?! What a fun recipe idea 🙂
Hannah says
I love making different pull apart breads and trying new recipes for it. This seems like a super savory one, with lots of cheese - which is never a bad thing.
Ana De- Jesus says
Yay it is vegetarian! I love pull apart bread and I think this is my favourite recipe I have seen today, can't wait to try it.
Debra says
I love LOVE pull apart bread recipes! I am going to have to try this one soon. It looks amazing!
Blythe A. says
It is like the Italian version of nachos. This recipe looks very delicious and fun alternative to regular garlic bread.
Jennifer Pilgrim says
My mouth is watering. You made it sound so easy to make! Great post.
Jeanine says
Yum this looks super delicious! My kids would be in heaven with this. Would be great to take to a party or pot luck too!
Koninika says
Love the bread making. Can eat it with soup inside of the way you described it or just add other ingredients and innovate recipes! Love the way you organized your post! Thanks for sharing!